scorecard

Point taken, however people like this have friends in high places, it's part of how they operate. And there's a good chance they are all involved in scams etc., so 'I scratch your back and you scratch my back' quickly comes into the picture. Also, there's plenty of examples of very guilty folks just walking away. E.g. Maybe 20 years ago Thai Dr. of medicine convicted of murdering his wife and burning her body. Judge found him quilty but said 'he is a doctor of medicine and very valuable to the community so I cannot put him in jail'. The dr. walked away, no further action taken.

Very true. Right now many organizations don't know what the pink card is and that includes many police but as jayboy said it's slowly getting to be known. One confusing point is that it's the exact same card format used for itinerate labour workers from neighboring countries. A couple of years ago a farang buddy tried to use his pink card to check in at Chiang Mai airport for domestic flight. The overzealous check-in lady noticed the wording on the back of the card re cannot travel more thn 40? Km away from place where the card was issued and she called the police. Police arrived, no understanding whatever what the card was. Farang luckily has the mobile number of the CM Muang amphur office senior where the card was issued. The amphur senior explained to the police waiting at the airport and the airline check-in staff. End result, airline refused to accept the card for check-in and demanded to see a passport. Things change slowly. As jayboy says many of these things are not difficult and can be done yourself with a little help from your office staff. I'm aware of one business agency (since closed down) who offered help with Work Permits. They already had a small team of smart young motorcycle couriers doing a range of tasks. They brought these employees into the office and quickly trained them how to complete a WP application and where to find the required documents, how/where to lodge the application (Labour office at Din Daeng) etc. When the agency got a call from a new client, for WP, they quickly despatched one of their trained couriers who went to the office where the farang was and within 30 minutes WP application all completed. Courier boy then went direct to the Labour office at Din Daeng. Courier called back a little later to confirm WP application accepted. Then courier boy made plan to meet the farang next morning early at Din Daeng, within an hour or so all fees paid by the farang to the Labour office and to the courier boy for the business agency (total 5,000Baht plus nice tip for the very pleasant and very capable courier boy). Farang walked away with new WP. I used this service for 3 years until the business agency was taken over and then quickly collapsed because of very poor management practices of the new owner. My WP had been renewed for many years by using an outrageously expensive international law firm (their office in Bkk), I hadn't been aware of their charges until by accident I saw their bill. I told our Admin. Manager to find a new lawyer or whatever to replace WPs and to do other legal items in the future. She claimed she couldn't find anybody. Truth was she was too embarrassed (loss of face) to tell the original law firm we wouldn't be using their services any further. So I called the law firm myself, the over confident snr lawyer claimed: - By Thai law WP applications and renewals have to be handled by a Thai registered law firm. NOT TRUE. - By Thai law the negotiations with the Thai Labour office have to be conducted by a Thai registered law firm. NOT TRUE, in fact there is no negotiation whatever for WPs. I challenged the over confident lawyer from the expensive law firm and she then claimed that they have to get a certificate from the home country gov't department where the passport was issued to prove it's a genuine passport and it's extremely expensive and requires snr. staff from the law firm to visit the Australian Embassy in Bkk for several meetings. NOT TRUE, there is no such requirement. Over confident lawyer from expensive law firm also claimed that they have to prepare all the documents then mail them to their Singapore regional office for sign off which incurs very large internal fees. I called their Singapore office and spoke to a snr partner, there was no such activity. When the business agency we used for several years closed down I called my personal Thai lawyer who had helped me previously to write my Thai Will, and asked if he could handle WP applications and renewals and several other legal items. He confirmed that he could and quoted some very reasonable fees (most items were 5,000Baht or less). He/his staff did all our legal work after that. I ensured I didn't get personally entangled, I quickly appointed our accountant to handle all of these items into the future.

I absolutely don't want either. With some luck there will be other alternatives at the next election (but not holding my breath).

- I kid you not. - Another gem - my Thai daughter in laws family insist it's the law that when a Thai lady gets married any property already owned by her husband is automatically now owned jointly/equally by the Thai wife's parents and all her siblings. - Another - My Thai daughter in laws loud full on middle aged lady boy is insistent that all Australian citizens (incl. all kids - all ages) receive a salary from the Australian government every month of about 50,000Baht, on top of any salary etc., they already receive. Plus, if A Thai lady marries an Australian man she and all of her relatives (mother/father/aunts/uncles and all kids) are entitled to receive the same 50,000Baht per month from the Aust. Gov't. But he's still searching for the documents to make this happen. He claimed years back that he went to the Aust. Embassy (then on Sth Sathorn) and asked for the documents but they were rude to him and told him to go away and don't come back.

- Is that true in every country? - Would it not be posssible (in fact simple) to format a receipt document to serve the exact same purpose?

It's very simple; when the LOS is officially rated and recognized/well acepted as a first world country then the TAT can get serious about trying to attract very big spenders etc. But right now the LOS is clearly not a first world country. Some would say 2nd world, I suggest it's still a 3rd world country with a long way to go to get near 1st world ranking.

Reality is that nowadays not many businesses / people use cheques and the number is dwindling more and more. One friend works in a Thai bank told me that they process so few cheques and numbers reducing more and more within a year or so they will possibly discontinue offering to sell cheque books to customers and stop accepting cheques as part of deposits. And mentioned banks are keen to stop the processing of cheques accepted because it a quite costly and still a labour intensive exercise. Also mentioned the bank is aware that customers nowadays much prefer to accept payments by electronic transfers etc., and buyers also prefer this payment method. Instant credit into receiving account and business doesn't have to prepare pay in documents, no need to go to bank to make deposits over the counter every day.

Have tried to convince some in our Thai family that other countries also have waterfalls. "Not possible, other countries are not allowed to have waterfalls."

And make sure you tell the condo manager and office they cannot give the new key to anybody for any reason and mention that includes Ms. vvvvvv vvvvvvvvv

Which also means paying a lot of attention to getting the foundation right. E.g: A house built on weak/poor foundation will probably fall over, same for anything.

Here we go again... yawn.

All these changes have been happening in Australia for many years; very big reductions in total numbers of ATM machines, big numbers of branches closed all banks. I'm aware of one bank which has reduced branches to one per state (and not all states). Customers have an ATM/Debit card, can get cash* from any ATM, bank instantly reimbursed other bank ATM costs. (*Cash rarely used now in Australia, 99% of all transactions is by quick touch debit cards.) Customer cannot deposit cash at the actual bank because there's no branches (except 1 in most capital cities). Customer can depsoit cash at any other bank for instant transfer to their own bank which instantly reimburses any other bank deposit charges. Old/new customers can do anything by online or telephone banking. This bank is attractive for another reason; no 'press 6 for credit cards' etc. A bank officer (could be anywhere in one of their capital city offices (they have no other offices) answers every incoming call. Cannot transfer the call, same officer has comprehensive training and capabilities and must complete whatever the customer wants by phone. Bank officer (on the phone) can easily/quickly talk the customer through uploading documents etc, showing bank products and more, especially if the customer downloads the bank app., all quick and easy. Excellent security including repeat security checks during phone calls etc., by voice recognition and more.

And who is the smaller young guy in that photo? His son?

Not sure... do you mean your wife sleeps with trash?

Same, also around 40 years never been asked for boarding pass.

Wouldn't be surprised if he had plenty of serious enemies within the force and wouldn't be surprised if he also had many scaly unethical helpful buddies in the force.

All very nice and overall better for the enviroment. Seems to me there's a lot more to come with electric vehicle technology; already lighter smaller batteries cheaper to produce, big reductions in charging time. Just recently the announcement of a car model going into production with panels installed under the thin roof panel, batteries continuously being recharged in daylight time. I'm sure more clever innovations yet to come.

I remember the case, always seemed to me: - He was surprised he got caught re all of his scams and corruption. - He thought he was entitled to scam others and murder others. Piece of total arrogant excretement. But I won't be surprised if he has very scaly friends in high places who owe him and somehow he escapes the punishment and somehow he gets released.

Banyin is the original arrrogant criminal scumbag, hope they carry out the punishment tomorrow.

Did you consider there might be a reason for this? There is, my sons in-laws all believe (like many others) that every farang is very rich with no limit, so for a while they raised this item and told my son they expected he spend big on my creamtion and a big Chinese style banquet to make the whole family look important (also becaue I have a Doctoral degree) so play that up, all to make the whole family look wealthy & important. Plus big handouts of money, all seen and recorded on video. My son ignored them for quite a while, then said 'dad isn't rich and he wants as much money as possible saved for the education of his grandchildren (son's kids)'. This statement got their attention and they went quiet on this subject. Ultimately how my son handles this is up to him, I know he won't go for a cheap charlie plan but he's (and his wife) arenot interested in displays of wealth, importance, status etc., and he won't go for ceremonies/dinners to make the family look important. Good.

Same, wrote simple clear will years ago here in Thailand. Thai son, one close friend (in Thailand) and family lawyer have originals. Property, vehicles all now in name of my one Thai son. Plus all funds now consolidated into one joint savings account in Thailand me and Thai son, anybody can sign. In birth country no other surviving members of family, no assets/property/investments whatever, therefore no will. Every couple of years I sit my Thai son down with his Thai wife and we go through the details of what I want to happen when I die; cheapest possible Thai cremation, no party.

And there's a perfect example of this in Pattaya, owns substantial expensive property and expensive cars, and big bank deposits in 3 countries. Late 70s, has lived on numerous strong medications, mainly for heart, every day for a couple of decades. Frequently friends ask 'Have you done anything yet about your will?' Response 'Dont' worry it's a work in progress and it doesn't really matter anyway because everybody knows who I like and should get something (which is of course a stupid thing to say, the court processes involved in all countries don't operate like that). The foreigner involved is well educated and well experienced in legal matters etc. He knows that dying with no will in 3 countries is going to cause chaos and pain for his family, he prefers to be totally lazy. Parents, now very elderly and several siblings all out of Thailand have no idea what the plans are and they all live in properties owned by the man who won't make his will.

-

Further, how serious would any investigation be to try to find nepotism? My guess is not serious at all, lots of words and anouncements but no real action. Until Move Forward and a coalition of similar like minded genuine folks get control nothing will happen, zero, re corruption, nepotism, cronyism etc.

My family is well aware of plenty of folks, some with children, who are scraping through at the moment on very small money and with some help, where possible by neighbors etc. But, no rent or mortgage to pay, 40,000Baht is luxury living. And those who can afford it good luck to them. In this case should the poster give the girl 40,000Baht a month? Yes if he can afford it but there's also the question of whether she deserves that sort of money. Threatening to burn the chanote - seems doubtful she's genuine but ...